HVAC enviro-clean valve

ABSTRACT

Currently, there are no products available which allow a user to treat microbial and bacterial growth inside a HVAC condensate drain line or clear a clogged line without cutting into the drain line. Our valve is an in-line condensate drain line valve that can be installed easily, quickly and economically, either during new construction or onto existing HVAC systems. The HVAC user can add household bleach to the condensate line, which inhibits microbial and bacterial growth without cutting into or disassembling the drain line. The design of our valve allows the user to perform safe routine maintenance to the HVAC drainage system without having to resort to expensive and repetitive service call repairs over the lifetime of the HVAC system. The valve is further designed to prevent undesirable reverse airflows into the HVAC system and home or building, caused by a dry water trap in the condensate drain. The prevention of reverse airflows and reduction of microbial and bacterial growth will have a positive impact of Indoor Air Quality.

SEQUENCE LISTING

[0001] “Not Applicable”

[0002] The name of our invention is HVAC Enviro-Clean Valve. HVACdenotes Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning. Our invention isinstalled on a HVAC unit condensate drain line and enables the user toreduce or eliminate bacteria and microbial growth in a condensate drainline and to easily remove blockages, if they do occur, and keep thedrain line freely flowing. The design of our valve prevents negativeairflows from entering into the HVAC unit when a “dry condensate trap”has occurred. Enviro-Clean pertains to our product having a positiveimpact on the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) of a home, apartment or officebuilding.

[0003] The inventors are: 1. Atwood M. Kimbrough Citizen of USA (850)994-1877 res.    5101 Rowe Trail (601) 671-0216 work    Pace, Florida32571 2. Carl Brian Kimbrough Citizen of USA (850) 983-1624 Res.    7066Milton Courts (601) 671-0676 work    Milton, Florida 32583

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0004] “Not Applicable”

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0005] “Not Applicable”

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

[0006] “Not Applicable”

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The field of endeavor to which our invention pertains is Heating,Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC condensate drain lines) for thehome, office, and apartment or wherever a heating and coolingair-handling unit may be installed.

[0008] Current technology addressing HVAC problems our invention solvesis as follows:

[0009] 1. To disinfect a HVAC condensate drain line, chlorine tablets orother disinfectants are added to the HVAC drain pan by removing thefront cover of the HVAC unit and placing the disinfectant into the drainpan. This is very cumbersome and has not been widely accepted byconsumers and usually results in discontinued use after a short periodof time.

[0010] 2. When a blockage occurs in a condensate drain line, a HVACrepairman must be called to cut into the line to remove the blockage,which normally results in a costly repair bill to the HVAC user. Anothermethod of cleaning the drain line involves using a water hose to forcewater into the drain line from the outlet end and many times results inspillage of water, bacteria and microbial matter into the HVAC unit andinterior of the building or dwelling, all of which have a negativeimpact on Indoor Air Quality.

[0011] 3. There are no known products available that prevents negativeairflows into the HVAC unit caused by what is known as the “dry trapsyndrome”. Our valve design prevents this from occurring and pollutedair flowing through a dry condensate drain line from entering into theHVAC unit and the building or home.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] One of the most common problems that a user of a Heating,Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system faces, is that of cloggedcondensate drain lines and overflowing drain pans which cause untolddamage annually. Typically, when this occurs, the owner or user of theHVAC system must call a repairman to cut the drain line, remove theblockage and clear the line for normal use. This usually occurs numeroustimes during the life of the HVAC system and results in a costly expensefor the consumer for the service call and repair, inconvenience, damageto carpet and building or dwelling interior and a danger to Indoor AirQuality (IAQ).

[0013] Current HVAC system installations do not include a method wherebythe condensate drain line can be treated to remove microbial andbacterial growth without considerable expense to the consumer.

[0014] The instant invention allows for easy access whereby one caneasily treat the condensate drain line with inexpensive household bleachto minimize the potential for microbial and bacterial growth whilefavorably affecting IAQ. If the drain line does become blocked, the linecan be cleared by the introduction of compressed air to clear theblockage without the necessity of cutting into the drain line.Additionally, problems associated with a “dry condensate trap” will beeliminated by the prevention of reverse airflows through the drain line.“Dry condensate trap” problems occur during times in which the HVAC unitis sparingly used and the water trap evaporates, thus leaving the drainline open and becomes a source of air intake for the HVAC system and hasa detrimental effect on health and IAQ. (See FIGS. 13, 14, & 15)

[0015] The primary value of our product to consumers and HVAC systemowners is as follows:

[0016] 1: Economic: Installation can be made during the initialinstallation of the HVAC unit or a retrofit can be made by the user orowner at anytime and inexpensively. Treatment of the drain line can bymade by the consumer cheaply, safely and easily and will eliminate orreduce expensive HVAC service calls. Additionally, the user can open aclogged line using compressed air and without cutting into the drainline.

[0017] 2: Environmentally safe: Common household bleach can be used totreat a drain line and eliminate most of the microbial and bacterialgrowth that usually occur in the line without being a detriment to theenvironment.

[0018] 3. Indoor Air Quality: By reducing microbial and bacterial growthand reducing drain pan spillages onto carpeting and interior of homesand buildings, there will be an improvement to Indoor Air Quality.Reverse airflows will be eliminated in systems operating with a “drycondensate trap” which will further enhance IAQ.

[0019] 4. Ease of use and installation: Installation of our valve iseasy to perform and can be made in a few minutes with no special toolsneeded. Once installed, access to the valve unit is easy and the routinetreatment procedure of adding bleach to the drain line takes very littletime to perform by removing the screw cap, adding a few drops of bleachinto the drain line and replacing the cap cover. If a blockage doesoccur, compressed air can be introduced into the drain line by removingthe screw cap on the air injection orifice and placing an air supplyhose fitting onto the air inlet. The design of our valve permits thecompressed air flow to be directed to the blockage and prevents it fromentering into the HVAC unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0020] 1. FIG. 1: HVAC Enviro-Clean Valve—side view

[0021] 2. FIG. 2: Barb Connection Detail

[0022] 3. FIG. 3: Compressed Air Inlet Detail

[0023] 4. FIG. 4: Cross Section at Valve Seat

[0024] 5. FIG. 5: Cross Section View at Slip Connection End

[0025] 6. FIG. 6: Cross Section View at Barb Connection End

[0026] 7. FIG. 7: Normal HVAC Condensate Flow Pattern

[0027] 8. FIG. 8: Condensate Flow through Enviro-Clean Valve

[0028] 9. FIG. 9: Disinfectant Input Through Valve

[0029] 10. FIG. 10: Disinfectant Flow Pattern

[0030] 11. FIG. 11: Compressed Air Input

[0031] 12. FIG. 12: Compressed Air Flow Pattern

[0032] 13. FIG. 13: Dry Condensate Trap

[0033] 14. FIG. 14: Negative Airflow Pattern with Enviro-Clean Valveinstalled

[0034] 15. FIG. 15: Negative Airflow Pattern without Enviro-Clean Valve

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0035] The instant invention is composed of a Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC)or equivalent plastic body being 3.75 inches in length, 0.0625 inch wallthickness, an inside diameter of 0.875 inch and an outside diameter of 1inch on the slip type connection end which allows for a glued connectioninto a PVC plastic elbow connection at the HVAC unit. Our valve containsan internal wafer check valve designed to prevent inflows into the HVACunit. The opposite end has an outside diameter of 0.75 inch and aninternal diameter of 0.5625 inch and a barbed configuration forattachment to the drain line.(See FIG. 1) Two openings on the top sideof the valve body allow the introduction of (I) household bleachmeasuring 0.75 inch height, 0.25 inch O.D. and 0.125 inch insidediameter, and (2), a compressed air inlet which measures 0.75 inch inheight, 0.625 inch O.D. and 0.50 inch inside diameter. The air andbleach openings are covered by screw type plastic caps. (See FIGS. 3, 6,8, 9, and 11)

[0036] The HVAC Enviro-Clean Valve is designed to be installed in-line(See FIG. 7) and allow for easy access by the consumer in a new orexisting HVAC condensate drain line to prevent blocking the drain lineand minimize the potential for microbial and bacterial growth and areduction in IAQ pollution. There are a number of potential breedinggrounds for bacteria and microbial growth within a HVAC system. Routinemaintenance by the HVAC user by adding common household bleach to thedrain line through an opening in the valve body will limit the growth ofbacteria and microbial matter in the drain line and keep it freelyflowing. A second entry point on the valve permits the introduction ofcompressed air into the drain line (without cutting the line) should theline become clogged, to expel the blockage from the line.

[0037] It is desirable to prevent HVAC drain pans from overflowing andcausing interior damage to homes and other buildings. Odors caused fromdamaged carpets which can remain wet for extended period of time and bea source of microbial and bacterial growth and cause a reduction in IAQand unhealthy to the user. It is desirable to prevent air inflows intothe HVAC system as a result of a “dry condensate trap”. The HVACEnviro-Clean Valve is designed to prevent reverse airflows into the HVACsystem through a dry condensate drain line. (See FIG. 13, 14, 15)

1. An in-line condensate drain line valve by which the owner or user ofa HVAC system can easily, safely and in an environmentally friendlymanner and using common household chemical products, treat and maintaina HVAC condensate drain line to remain open and clear from blockagewhile minimizing bacterial and microbial growth within the drain line.2. An HVAC user can eliminate service repair costs caused by blockedHVAC drain lines by installing our valve and using routine maintenanceprocedures.
 3. If a condensate drain line does become blocked bymicrobial and bacterial growth, the user can introduce compressed airinto the drain line through our valve to remove the blockage withoutcutting or disassembling the drain line.
 4. Our HVAC Enviro-Clean Valvewill reduce Indoor Air pollution and will make residential air space andother buildings safer and cleaner.
 5. HVAC drain pan spillage ontocarpeting and interior of dwellings and buildings and the clean-up costsassociated therewith, can be greatly reduced or eliminated by routinemaintenance using our valve.
 6. Problems of reverse and unsanitary airinflows into the interior of a building or dwelling caused by a “drycondensate trap” will be eliminated by our HVAC Enviro-Clean Valve,which is designed to prevent reverse air-flows into the HVAC unit. 7.Installation of the HVAC Enviro-Clean Valve can be made at time ofinitial installation of the HVAC system or can be easily and quicklyinstalled on existing systems without special tools.